PHI 



OR, BOTANICAL DICTIONARY. 



PHI 



283 



pedicel ; they are white, and have a strong scent, which at 

 some distance resembles that of Orange flowers ; but near, 

 it is too powerful for most persons : they appear at the end 

 of May, and generally continue great part of June. It sel- 

 dom produces seeds that ripen in this country. There are 

 two varieties worthy of notice: 1. The Dwarf Syringa, which 

 seldom rises above two feet high. The leaves are shorter, 

 more ovate, and little indented on their edges: the flowers 

 come out singly from the side of the branches, and have a 

 double or treble row of petals, of the same size and form as 

 the other, and the flowers have the same scent ; but flower- 

 ing very rarely, it is not much esteemed. 2. The Carolina 

 Syringa, which rises with a shrubby stalk about sixteen feet 

 high, sending out slender branches from the sides, opposite 

 to each other ; leaves smooth, shaped like those of the Pear- 

 tree, entire, opposite, on pretty long footstalks. The flowers 

 are produced at the ends of the branches; they are large, 

 but scentless ; each has four white oval petals spreading 

 open, and a large calix composed of four acute-pointed 

 leaflets. The Common Syringa is extremely hardy, and will 

 thrive in almost any soil or situation, but will grow taller in 

 light good ground than in that which is stiff. It is usually 

 propagated by suckers, which are sent from the roots in great 

 plenty : these should be taken from the old plants in au- 

 tumn, and planted in a nursery, to grow one or two years, 

 till they have obtained strength, and then may be trans- 

 planted to the places where they are designed to remain. 

 They are commonly disposed in plantations of flowering 

 shrubs, among others of the same growth, and mix very well 

 with the Lilac, Gelder Rose, and Laburnum; and is particu- 

 larly valuable from its thriving under the shade of trees, and 

 forming a blockade against low buildings, where persons have 

 no dislike to the powerful odour. It may also be increased 

 by cuttings, planted in October, in a moist shady border; 

 and by layers, from young twigs put into the ground'at the 

 beginning of the winter, which will be rooted by the follow- 

 ing autumn. The other species may be increased in the 

 same way, but are too delicate to endure the open air of our 

 fickle climate. 



2. Philadelphus Scoparius ; Myrtle-leaved Syringa. 

 Leaves lanceolate, quite entire, rigid, three-nerved, all the 

 flowers five-cltft; calicine segments coloured, deciduous. 

 Stem arborescent, very much branched, almost upright, full 

 of chinks, ash-coloured. Native of New Zealand, where the 

 fresh-flowering shoots were used as tea by the sailors in 

 Captain Cook's ship. They supposed it to be serviceable 

 in the sea-scurvy ; and at first found the infusion sweetly 

 aromatic and fragrant, though it afterwards became very 

 bitter. It flowers in June and July. 



3. Philadelphus Aromaticus ; Sweet-scented Syringa. 

 Leaves linear-lanceolate, nerveless, quite entire ; all the 

 flowers five-cleft; calicine segments coloured, deciduous. 

 It flowers in July and August. Native of New Zealand. 



4. Philadelphus Laniger ; Hoary Syringa. Leaves oblong, 

 acute, quite entire, pubescent ; calices woolly. It flowers in 

 June and July. Native of New South Wales. 



5. Philadelphus Lewisii. Leaves ovate, acute, entire, cili- 

 ated at the margin ; segments of the calix, acute ; style of 

 Ihe length of the stamina, trifhl; stigmata three. Grows on 

 the waters of Clarck's river, and flowers in July. 



Phillyrea; a genus of the class Diandria, order Monogy- 

 nia. GENERIC CHARACTER. Calix: perianth one-leafed, 

 tubular, four-toothed, very small, permanent. Corolla : one- 

 petalled, funnel-form; tube scarcely any; border four-parted, 

 revolute, acute; segments ovate. Stamina: filamenta two, 

 opposite, short; antherse simple, erect. Pistil: germen 

 89. 



superior, roundish; style simple, the length of the stamina; 

 stigma thickish. Pericarp: berry ovate, globular, two-celled. 

 Seed: solitary, flattish on one side, convex on the other, one 

 of them frequently abortive. ESSENTIAL CHARACTER. 

 Calix: four-toothed. Corona: four-cleft. Berry or Drupe : 



two-celled. Seeds: solitary. The species are, 



1. Phillyrea Media; Lance-leaved Phillyrea. Leaves ob- 

 long, lanceolate, entire, and serrate. This is a bushy smooth 

 shrub, with many straight, roundish, pale brown, leafy, wand- 

 like branches ; leaves opposite, on short stalks, of a dull co- 

 lour, elliptical, with a small point; flowers yellowish white; 

 fruit the size of a small pea, dark purple, bitter and nause- 

 ous. There are two varieties, the Privet-leaved, and Olive- 

 leaved ; but they are both of humbler growth, seldom more 

 than eight or ten feet high. This, and the third species, are 

 very proper to intermix with other evergreen trees of the 

 same growth, to form clumps in parks, or to plant round the 

 borders of woods, which are filled with deciduous tree's, 

 where in the summer time the dark shade of these ever- 

 greens will make a fine contrast with the brighter green 

 leaves of the deciduous trees; and in winter, when the latter 

 are destitute of leaves, they will have a fine effect, besides 

 affording a shelter for the feathered race. They may be 

 trained up to stems, so as to be out of the reach of cattle, 

 and planted in open places, where, if they be fenced against 

 cattle till they have acquired their full growth, they may be 

 afterwards exposed. The other species, which are of hum- 

 bler growth, must be confined to gardens or other inclosures, 

 where they may be secured from cattle, hares, rabbits, &c. 

 These plants are propagated either from seeds or layers ; 

 but the latter being the most expeditious method, is gene- 

 rally preferred. The best time to lay them down is in au- 

 tumn, when you should dig the ground round-the stems of 

 the plants intended to be layed, making it very loose ; then 

 making choice of a smooth part of a shoot, make a slip up- 

 ward, in the same manner as is practised in laying of Carna- 

 tions, and then bend the branch gently down to the ground, 

 making a hollow place by the hand to receive it ; and having 

 placed the part which was slit into the ground, so as that 

 the slit may open, you should fasten it down with a forked 

 stick, that it may remain steady, covering that part of the 

 branch with earth about three inches thick, observing to keep 

 the upper part erect. Keep them clear from weeds the 

 spring and summer following, and in the next autumn most 

 of them will be rooted ; they should then be carefully taken 

 off, and planted in a nursery, where they may be trained up 

 for three or four years in the manner you intend them to 

 grow ; during which time dig the ground between the rows, 

 and cut about the roots of the plants every year, which will 

 cause them to strike out strong fibres, sa ,as to support a 

 good ball of earth when they are removed. "Observe also to 

 support their stems with stakes in order to' make them 

 straight, for if neglected they will grow very crooked and 

 unsightly. When the plants have been thus managed three 

 or four years, transplant them into the places where they 

 are designed to remain. The best time for this work is the 

 end of September or the beginning of October; but in re- 

 moving them, dig round their roots, and cut off all downright 

 or strong roots which have shot out to a great distance, that 

 you may the better preserve a ball of earth to each plant, 

 otherwise they are subject to miscarry ; and when you have 

 planted them in their new quarters, lay some mulch upon 

 the surface of the ground, to prevent their drying. Sup- 

 port the plants also with stakes, unul they have taken fast 

 hold of the earth, to prevent their being turned out of the 

 ground, or displaced by the winds, which will destroy' the 



